In order to facilitate speedy probe in cases of crimes against women and ensure justice, an Investigative Unit for Crimes Against Women (IUCAW) is expected to be formed initially as pilot project in six of the State’s districts. These units would be set up in Haridwar, Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Almora and Pauri districts. This project is to be executed with Centre and State Governments sharing 50 per cent each of the expenditure, said inspector general (law and Order) Deepam Seth on Friday.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had recently directed all the States and Union Territories to establish IUCAWs considering rise in reported crimes against women. After registration of case, the personnel of the units to be set would investigate gender crimes aiming at effective action and convictions. The IUCAWs will also assist the local police in investigation of heinous crimes against women like rape, dowry deaths, acid attack and human trafficking.
The IG said that establishments of specialised IUCAWs would enable investigators to probe the registered case in detail to achieve the intended result. A meeting was held at secretariat on Friday with the State administration officials to discuss the plan with a decision being reached on implementing the plan on pilot-basis in six districts, he said. “As per central government directives, the objectives of setting these units are to provide additional functionalities of pro-active policing, intelligence gathering, tackling crime, monitoring and public awareness generation and social involvement against gender crime,” said Seth.
As per the MHA guidelines, a unit headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police will have 15 personnel with one-third of them being women.
Each unit will consist of four sub-units headed by an Inspector rank officer. It will form the core investigative unit, while two DSPs headed by one Additional SP will function in supervisory capacity.
He said that each IUCAW will be headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police assisted by two DSPs, four inspectors and four constables. This will entail a total expenditure of Rs 59 lakh annually with the Central Government paying 50 per cent of the staff salaries in each unit. The rest would be paid by the State Government.